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Back To The Future: Astronauts Return To American Launchpad In Sleek New Ride
After nearly a decade of NASA paying Russia to send humans into orbit, astronauts are about to launch from American soil once more, this time in a hypermodern vehicle.
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The Dragon Crew capsule on top of its trunk before an unmanned 2019 test flight. The cargo-carrying trunk is fitted with fins that stabilize the capsule if the SuperDraco thrusters explode into action, and a solar panel.
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The unmanned Dragon approaching the ISS in March 2019.
The solar panel design marks another change from older space capsules that use delicate solar arrays that unfold like wings once in orbit.
The solar panel design marks another change from older space capsules that use delicate solar arrays that unfold like wings once in orbit.
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If the Crew Dragon rocket reaches orbit on May 27, the Falcon’s booster (pictured here moments before crashing in 2015) will break off, spin around, then plummet toward a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, to land in a puff of smoke.
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A Falcon 9 booster being returned to base on its drone ship after a successful 2019 landing. Just over 80 percent of SpaceX’s ocean-landing attempts have been successful.